This Winter seems relentless. With the frigid temperatures and endless snowstorms, it can become challenging to keep everyone in good spirits. I have found that pulling out some old-fashioned tricks has helped tremendously.

First of all, don’t forget to stop and look around. Winter is beautiful, especially with lots of snow. Some of the most amazing sunrises can be seen now, and grumpy tired children are instantly warmed and wakened with a view of the colors. The heavy snows transform the landscape, rounding and hunching the evergreens and creating vast palettes with which the wind can toss and brush, revealing amazing patterns and textures on the surface of the snow.

When the weekend comes and boredom threatens to set in, bundle the kids up and go for a stroll outside. One needn’t venture far, sometimes the most amazing things can be spotted right off the house or garage.

Icicles dancing

Cool icicles and frost patterns on windows are fascinating, and kids of all ages love to pluck down an icicle for themselves, as big a treat as a lollipop!

A small oak leaf left from Autumn, trimmed with frost

It is very helpful to connect with Nature to find the beauty and inner joy of this time of year. Like the nighttime of every day, Winter is a time to rest and rejuvenate, to heal, to reflect in quiet time, to dream up hopes and aspirations anew for the coming Spring and Summer. Take the time to notice the low and distant angle of the sunlight unique only to this time of year, to appreciate the crisp colors of the cold daylight sky, and the extra vividness of the starry night sky. Savor the absolute brilliance of the Full Moon illuminating a snow-covered landscape, as bright as daylight itself. Stop and listen to the soft stillness of Winter, every sound muted by the soft blanket of snow surrounding us. All this beauty is more than worth braving the cold to witness.

Our creek completely iced-over, a rare sight

Common-place things become extraordinary in the winter landscape. We live on the East Branch of Nanticoke Creek, a year-round stream. Only in extremely cold winters such as this does it ice-over. This year there is even a collection of 6-inch thick cakes of ice on the banks, jammed and piled together creating a mini arctic landscape.

Common things become extraordinary in the winter landscape.

The snow tells tale of an animal crossing, amazing that life continues even in the bitter cold

It’s fun to spot and identify the different animal tracks in the snow. It’s amazing that so many little creatures are able to endure the bitter cold temperatures, and we can appreciate our ability to seek shelter in the warmth of our homes.

When you do get back inside, you’ll find otherwise restless children calmed, refreshed, ready to enjoy the warmth of the home. Now is definitely the time to break into the stash of all the goodies that have been put up for Winter use! Canned salsas, chutneys and relished can come out with crackers to chips to create a quick snack, apples from the root cellar can be made into sauce or canned applesauce is warmed and enjoyed with cinnamon.

Finished sauce ready to eat

Frozen berries are made into syrup to jazz up pancakes or waffles, or baked into muffins and quick breads. Extra milk from the cow? Time for hot cocoa and homemade pudding!

Pancakes with blueberry syrup

These comforting activities in the kitchen add warmth and spirit to these cold days, as well as creating priceless memories for the children to pass on to the next generation.

Winter is cold, but it is also beautiful. Without these colder days we might forget to appreciate the warmer days ahead. Rather than feeling gloomy during these days, remember to find the fun parts of a snowy landscape, whether inside or out.